The Taxi and Limousine Commission said it made history today, approving Uber as the first electronic hailing app for a 12-month pilot program it has been developing.

“We will be able to see e-hail services made available to the riding public through a one year pilot program that officially begins today,” said taxi commissioner David Yassky. “The first provider to be approved is Uber Technologies.”

There are several other apps in various stages of the approval process, Yassky said in a statement today.

Companies like Uber and Hailo are testing their apps, which allow users to flag taxis and pay for their rides using smartphones.

The pilot program was not without controversy and had been held up by lawsuits from private car services, who, fearing the competition, argued the program was against the rules.

A judge this week tossed the legal complaint, opening the way for the apps to start testing their services. Uber is a San Francisco company.